Chickasaw Electric Cooperative Recognized As Leader In Solar Usage

August 9, 2013

SOMERVILLE, Tenn. Chickasaw Electric Cooperative has been recognized by the Solar Electric Power Association as one of the country’s top producers of solar-generated power based on the number of customers it serves.

The association said Chickasaw Electric, as a partner in the West Tennessee Solar Farm, generates an average of 217 watts of solar energy for each of its more than 15,000 customers, the fifth most of any utility in the nation.

John Collins, Chickasaw Electric’s general manager, accepted a plaque to mark the occasion at the local power company’s Aug. 6 annual board meeting in Somerville, Tenn.

This is the first time Chickasaw Electric has ranked on the Solar Electric Power Association survey. The recognition follows the installation of the West Tennessee Solar Farm in early 2012, which generates five megawatts of solar power brought onto the TVA power grid through Chickasaw Electric.

“It is a true honor to be recognized by SEPA for our efforts to add solar power to the TVA system,” Collins said. “The West Tennessee Solar Farm is a tremendous asset to our community and to know it is one of the top per capita generating systems in the country is a feather in our cap.”

The West Tennessee Solar Farm, located in Haywood County, is a cooperative program between the University of Tennessee, Chickasaw Electric, TVA and others. The five megawatts of solar power that TVA purchases are enough to power 500 Tennessee Valley homes. The West Tennessee Solar Farm is currently the largest single source of solar power on the TVA power system.

TVA currently owns or purchases more than 6,315 megawatts of renewable generation capacity, including 77 megawatts of solar energy.

The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power distributors serving 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.